Manager Alex Smith last night called on his players to honour the memory of departed chairman Jim McLean’s 30-year contribution to the club by ensuring his final season at Tannadice does not end in the relegation it threatens to. An emotional Smith, clearly still coming to terms with the events of the preceding 48 hours, gathered together the entire playing staff yesterday and sought to ensure that if anything good could come of the furore that has engulfed the troubled Tangerines then it might take the shape of the catalyst he feels United need to turn their fortunes. "I, along with two members of the board, had a long meeting with every player today at which I spoke about the weekends events and stressed the need to get the pride back in the club," revealed Smith. "Ever since I came here nine games ago I have been looking for some kind of cause to lift the club and maybe we’ve just been given one. "The achievements of Jim McLean were nothing short of magnificent and we cannot allow that to be forgotten. "We owe it to him to produce a massive improvement in performances."

Smith, who is working without the security of a contract, admitted that he has never found himself in a tougher situation than at present, but insisted the waygoing of close pal McLean had not left him feeling under increased threat of the axe. However, he has been long enough in the game to realise that his own future depends on the players responding as he asked them to. "I have spoken to the board on a number of occasions about the need to stabilise things at the club and the directors are very much on the same wavelength as myself in that regard," he said. "Since Jim stood down as manager this club has not only gone through a number of managers it has also witnessed massive movement in terms of players. "And I think we have reached the stage where we must let things settle down and develop a group of players to form a core at the heart of the club. "I realise that the position we are in encourages panic but we need to allow the lads I’ve brought in the opportunity to become good players for Dundee United.

"As manager, I am in control of that and I have put in place a coaching structure that will I believe aid the recovery process. "But to get back to the kind of standard that the fans would find acceptable-ie qualifying for Europe or playing silky soccer-won’t happen overnight. It will be a step by step process. "When I came here the target was to make the top six and hopefully pinch a European place. "Now it is mid table and retaining our Premier League status. "Long term I think this club should be competing in the latter stages of the championship and major competitions and winning some of them. "But our immediate, ambition is just to win the next game! "I don’t shirk from the fact that we haven’t played well enough to win a match or failed to impress the supporters in certain games. "And I recognise the need for us to get things right on the park. "But I have only been here nine games and it would have been impossible to turn things around in so short a period. "Although they have to weigh up their responsibility to the fans and the club I think the directors here will be fair in giving me time. I was the unanimous choice of the board when I was appointed I don’t think their view of me has changed.

"I’ve had nothing but encouragement from the directors and having had the "interim manager" removed 10 days after taking the job I am the manager of Dundee United in the complete and utter sense of the word. "I accept, though, that time is the enemy and that I’ve got to give the board encouragement from my end." Smith drew a parallel between United’s present bottom-of-the-table plight and the very first year of the Premier League when McLean, himself, came within a whisker of leading the club into the First Division. "That season, if you recall, Dundee went down on goal difference with both United and Aberdeen only just escaping the drop. "Yet within a matter of years the two clubs had become major forces in Scottish football and went on to enjoy success on the European stage. "I think that shows that sometimes you have to hit your lowest point before you can recover and maybe we’ve done that now." United fans-who since the beginning of the 1998-99 season have seen their club win just 19 of 83 league games-will pray Smith is right in that particular regard.

Meanwhile, at boardroom level it was a day of hectic activity but little in the way of indications as to the future direction for Dundee United. We are not going to be rushed into hasty decisions or hasty statements,’’ commented a Tannadice spokesman. We are taking stock and looking at the best way forward for the club. And it is impossible at this stage to say how long this process might last as it might be prudent to take our time. We have spoken to the staff and players and hope to be having meetings at some stage with other people connected with the club including representatives of the Federation of Supporters Clubs and The Dundee United Business Club to keep them abreast of the situation and also to listen to them. But Tannadice is still a very sad place because, while there is still a lot of business to be getting on with, our thoughts are with Jim and his wife Doris as without Jim McLean there would not be a Dundee United. And not withstanding the events of Saturday evening he should be remembered for what he achieved and for his standing in Scottish football.’’ That opinion was supported by boss Smith. Jim is a massive loss to the club,’’ he claimed.

There is a chasm left by his going. His achievements here were nothing short of magnificent and the one positive thing to come out of this business has been the documenting of his managerial career as that has highlighted to that percentage of the population who are too young to fully appreciate, the heights he took Dundee United to and from where. I don’t think what he did will ever be repeated for only one or two managers have the privilege of taking their sides to European finals, especially teams they have built from scratch themselves. ©The Courier